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Happy Heart Birthday, Annabelle!

My emotions are like a giant ping-pong lately. Lots of personal stuff, good and bad, and just LIFE happening.

But… I’m reminded today about thankful I am for that whole crazy, dizzying life thing.

Because two years ago today, my sweet Annabelle was given the chance at LIFE just as another family said good-bye to their sweet child.

We always do a mini-celebration of heart day with Annabelle, nothing big. But in my heart, it is also a day I mourn, because I know parents out there are struggling today. Are holding tight to memories instead of a child like I am.

And this year, it is more poignant than ever, as today a family here in our home-town is saying goodbye to their 10-year-old daughter whose heart failed as a horrific side-effect of the flu. She’d been placed on the heart transplant list, but died shortly after this past Friday.

Sweet Halle’s funeral is today.

So yeah. My heart is conflicted today. I am so thankful, yet so sad. My heart bursts looking at my daughter… but the cost is bittersweet.

And as we deal with normal (yet still frustrating) life issues this week, I’m trying to remind myself of how blessed we are to deal with them. I’ll be honest. In the moment, It’s hard to remember it. Because life can be SUPER SUPER FRUSTRATING (yesterday was a GREAT example of that.)

But I’m determining in my heart to keep my eyes on Jesus, through the ups and downs. Through the sweet and the bitter. Through the conflicting emotions.

I think, lately, that my eyes have slipped to circumstances instead of staying focused on God. Just a subtle slip… kinda like a glance down that becomes too often that I get sidetracked and overwhelmed.

So today… I’m lifting my eyes up to Jesus. Trying to focus my eyes there. Reminding myself of the blessings God has given our family… the blessing that each of my children are to me… and the blessing we received 2 years ago today in the form of a second chance at life for my eight-month-old very sick daughter.

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You are amazing and every day I'm more thankful of God placing you in my life!Wow! Happy heart day, Annabelle – may your sweet heart beat the life of two!My prayers are with Halle's family. I can't even imagine the pain and sorrow they must feel right now.

Prayers for you all, even as you lift up Miss Annabelle's heartday. You, more than most, know that even good things in life come with a cost. And that looking up is the only way we get through sometimes. Hugs to you all.